Looking for information about your firm's panel status?
Suffolk Building Society Solicitor Panel Assistance:
What are the Suffolk Building Society conveyancing panel arrangements?
Unlike the CML the Building Society Mortgage Instructions deal with this. Section A.12 states ‘In order to act on our behalf your firm or company must be a member of our conveyancing panel provided we are a society that operates one – see specific requirements for details of our arrangements.
The Special Requirements state:
The Society operates a Conveyancing Panel and in order for Firms to act for the Society you must be appointed to this panel. To be appointed to the panel you should apply at:-
www.lms.com/lenderpanels
You must also comply with the terms and conditions of your Suffolk Building Society solicitor panel appointment.
What obligations do I have,
being on the Suffolk Building Society conveyancing panel, to carry out a Chancel Search?
Suffolk Building Society make no specific obligation to carry out
any of the searches listed. The BSA Mortgage Instructions simply
states that ‘you must ensure that any other searches which may be
appropriate to the particular property, taking into account its
locality and other features are carried out’.
Remember that most ‘less usual searches’ (as described in the Law Society’s Conveyancing Handbook) are not optional as far as Suffolk Building Society are concerned if they are ‘appropriate’. Most lenders will not require environmental searches (you should Check the Suffolk Building Society Specific Requirements of BSA Handbook to be sure), but you are obliged to explain risks and availability to the borrower.
Ground stability, Plansearch,flood searches as well as the searches listed in the question are optional – but only to the extent that you have allowed the borrower client to make an informed choice. Regardless of whether there is a mortgage, If you have not advised the client that these (and other) searches are available and what risks they cover, then you will be liable if the client suffers loss through not conducting one.
I am hearing that agents are using online checkers to see if a firm is on a lender panel. Why?
Many estate agents are suffering if their clients start out on the conveyancing process having appointed a solicitor who is not on the panel with the purchaser’s chosen lender. Many conveyancing firms are only discovering when they begin working on a case that they are no longer able to work with that lender. Given the inevitable resultant delays in the transaction the chances of an abortive deal increases dramatically. in the circumstances there is understandable anguish on the part of the estate agent as a result of the lost time should the client have to change solicitors lawyers.
What is the CLC doing to ensure that licensed conveyancers remain on lender conveyancing panels?
As is the case with the Law Society the Council of Licensed Conveyancers has initiated dialogue with lenders and their representative bodies to see whether and how the risks that lenders wish to mitigate could be addressed through the regulatory framework rather than ad hoc arrangements that can differ from lender to lender. It is likely that that the CLC have been in touch with lenders such as Suffolk Building Society in the recent past
My firm is not on the Suffolk Building Society solicitor panel among other banks . My clients, who have applied for a mortgage with Suffolk Building Society wish use my firms conveyancing services regardless of the fact that we are not on the Suffolk Building Society panel. Am I doing anything wrong is suggesting to my client that they use a firm down the road to act for Suffolk Building Society on mortgage aspect of the conveyancing?
Please tread carefully here as what you are suggesting may not be acceptable to the lender.
It is possible that you (as a non-panel firm) or the mortgage applicant are not at liberty instruct a panel firm of your choice. Lenders such as Nationwide BS make it clear to their panel firms that where a non-panel member firm is instructed by one of their mortgage applicants, the lender will appoint a panel firm to carry out its instructions and to liaise with the borrower's conveyancer.
You also need to make the costs implications and potential for delay very clear to your client.
Can the BSA assist me in an appeal having not been accepted onto the Suffolk Building Society conveyancing panel?
If you have not been accepted or indeed been removed from the Suffolk Building Society conveyancing panel then the BSA will not have any part to play in influencing Suffolk Building Society in changing their mind. Please contact us here at Lexsure so that we can put you in touch with a consultant who may be able to assist. At the very least it’s worth a call to us.
What lender panels do you receive the most questions about?
BSA lenders do not come within the top 20 lenders in terms of
frequency of questions. The most popular lender panels in terms of
questions are as follows:
Find a Lawyer on the Suffolk Building Society Conveyancing Panel
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Average number of days to register title including a charge in favour of Suffolk Building Society
This information relates to purchase only and not remortgages.
| Year | Days* |
|---|---|
| 2025 | [no data] |
| 2024 | [no data] |
| 2023 | [no data] |
| 2022 | [no data] |
| 2021 | [no data] |
| 2020 | [no data] |
* Data aggregated from sources including COMPLETIONmonitor
Other related topics:
- CQS policy templates and procedures for accredited Suffolk Building Society Firms
- Draft Report on Title precedent for Suffolk Building Society borrowers
- Draft Anti Money Laundering PolicyTemplate for Suffolk Building Society panel firms to consider
- Dealing with Lender Policy Template panel for CQS accredited firms on the Suffolk Building Society lender panel
- Buy-to-Let help for Suffolk Building Society
- Consent-to-Let help for Suffolk Building Society
- Contractor Mortgages with Suffolk Building Society
